Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-08
Dairying in Los Angeles County.

read by Mr.. w. z. Cook, of Santa Ana
at the late meeting of the Pomologica
Society here. Mr.. Cook has made tn,
subject he treats upon q study, and il
therefore competent to give an opinion
as guide to those who desire to engage
in the dairying business in this, the
best alfalfa.growing region in the United
States. Mr.. Cook said:
"There is large tract of land lying
east, south and southwest of Santa Ana,
embracing 1000 acres of land, known as
the Moist Belt, where the water rises to
within g few feet of the surface. Yet
corn is grown in immense qualities,
yielding 73 to 100 bushels per acre. All
or nearly all OF the fodder or milk.pro.
ducing plants are at home in almost this
entire belt. Flowing wells are abund-
ant. What is wanted is some
Of our enterprising farmers to take
these lands In hand, but in things as
they are doing very extensively in the
Middle States, or in the same manner as
they do in France or Italy, and l might
say, many other provinces that visited
in my rambles in foreign countries. Our
climate is far more uniform than the
Italian climate. I spent one winter
there and kept the record. The temper.
ature thus far in this valley is as follows:
At 6 A. M, 40 degrees above zero; IL M,
6S degrees; at P. M, 46 degrees.
This is the 18th day of January,
1887, this being the lowest thus far,
and there has been but sight variation
for the past seven years. Cows are
grazing in alfalfa up to their eyes at this
date"
Land can be bought at from $40 TO
Ana, but the best is the cheapest in
the end if it cost 500 per acre.
On such land milk producing material
can be planted and gathered every
day of the year. If, as starting point,
100 acres be bought, then 80 should
be planted with alfalfa, an invaluable
feeding plant, and is at home in our
soil and climate. As a sample of the
productiveness of alfalfa l would state
hat one acre has yielded me twelve tons
per year for several years, it having been
cut eight times, from March to Decem.
Der; and with greater care might have
been cut ten timesl. Eighty acres hav-
ing been planted as we have said, ten
more should be sown to wheat or barley
in early winter, for hay. The wheat be.
ing taken off the stubble should be turned
under and two and one.half acres planted
with pumpkins at once, the same
amount of land being planted in the
same manner in June, and twice that
amount in July for winter and spring
feeding. As soon as the first crop of
pumpkins has been gathered, sow the
and thickly with corn IN drills. Ninety
acres being taken up in this way the
next should be devoted to beets, plant
ing in succession, as advised for pump.
kins. Thus, the land is kept busy, as
it were, producing milk.making material
all the time.
"The average crop of pumpkins may be
stated at 20 tons per acre, and of beets
40 tons. Alfalfa should he cut when in
bloom, and corn when the ears are ''in
the milk" Late planted pumpkins will
keep until spring. or even early summer.
Beets contain more nourishing material
the first year, although have found
those OF the second year to be very good
for stock.
81 think I am safe in saying that l25
COWS and two spans of horses can be
kept in tirst-rate condition on 100 acres
of good land-treated as above recon.
mended. 1t is good plan to have two
corrals supplied with feeding racks,
these can be used alternately, turn
ing the stock from the one with
empty racks into the one where the
racks hive been filled. Perphaps
it might be well to plant about three
acres with trees. The pepper and the
eucalyptus, or gum, are both suitable for
this purpose, being evergreens, and a
pleasant shelter for stock because in
sects avoid them. They are rapid
and it is we'll known that they
have some effect upon the atmosphere,
which prevents both man and beast from
being attacked by fevers. Therefore
there need be no fear of the "milk
fever" which is so prevalent in the East
ern States of the country. Stock are
not disposed to eat the leaves of
these trees, but protect themselves
from flies under their dropping
branches. A plentiful supply of pure
water is absolutely necessary for dairy.
stock, and so are buildings for shelter
and the proper care of milk. Milk of
the first quality and in large quantities
can only be obtained from COW ON
whose comfort you bestow great care;
keep her quiet and make her comforta-
BILE and she will repay you well. Our
climate being so uniformity mild and
green food always to be obtained, it
is found that the supply of milk given
by a COW is more constant than In
climates subject to great change and
where much of the food must be given
in a dry state. Not only is the supply
more constant, but the quality is better.
visited L. A. Carey's heard of fifty
COWS a few days since, and in CONVEX
saton with him on the subject he said:
1t is my opinion that we in this local
ity (near Santa Anal can raise as much
good butter and cheese-producing food
on one acre as they can in the
Eastern States on five acres.
Mr.. Cary ought to know, he hav-
ing been in the dairy business in New
Jersey for several years. His father re.
marked: 4 suppose there is not a spot
on this green earth better adapted to
the production of butter and the manu-.
facture and curing of cheese than
is Los Angeles county. And,
he continued, . it will be gen.
orally admitted that the cheese
made by Mr.. Harshman, of Compton, is
equal in quality to any made in the
E Eistern States, and it is my opinion that
Santa Ana is more favorably located for
the curing of cheese than Compton